Barossa Light and Gawler’s top 40 players of 2023 ranked
The Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association features some of the state’s star country footballers, so we’ve ranked the competition’s top 40 players. See who made the cut.
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The Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association has been one of South Australia’s top country footy competitions for years and has no shortage of top drawer talent.
Based on this season’s form and with the help of the association, we’ve ranked the top 40 players in the competition for 2023.
Players who had played less than five games so far were ruled ineligible.
Reigning premier Nuriootpa and current top side South Gawler led the way for representation with six players named each.
Here are our rankings from no. 40 to 1.
40. LACHLAN ARNOLD
(South Gawler)
A young ruckman making his way as one of the premier bigs in the competition, Arnold has been integral to the Lions’ success so far this season.
A hard worker who takes big grabs and also sets midfielders up with consistent tap work.
Three best player mentions in eight games to go with four goals so far.
39. LACHIE WESTLAKE
(Nuriootpa)
Westlake is a fast-emerging lockdown defender in the BLG, often causing headaches for opposition forwards.
Runs all day and always attacks the footy fearlessly whether in the air or at ground level.
Has four best player nods in eight games.
38. BRODIE CORMACK
(Willaston)
A reliable young midfielder and defender who bleeds red and blue, Cormack has been one of Freeling’s hardest workers.
Gets plenty of the footy and uses it well under pressure.
Has five best player appearances in eight games so far.
37. MICHAEL VIDAL
(Gawler Central)
An up and coming midfielder/forward, Vidal has emerged as an exciting prospect in the BLGFA.
The 20-year-old has been a standout in his debut senior footy season in the BLG, accumulating the footy at a high rate and linking up well with teammates.
Has five best player nods in eight games.
36. SAMUEL DAFF
(Freeling)
A young defender who often takes the opposition’s best forwards, Daff has been a major challenge for opposition sides this year.
Daff always competes hard, crashing pack for the ball or winning one-on-one challenges with forwards.
Has been among Freeling’s best on five occasions through his eight games so far.
35. MATT WESTHOFF
(Tanunda)
Younger brother of Port Adelaide Power great Justin Westhoff, Matt has excelled as a key defender so far this season.
A great asset at the back who can spoil any marking contest and distributes as well as anyone under pressure.
Westhoff has three best player mentions in eight games and a goal.
34. HARRY WUTKE
(Kapunda)
One of the Bombers’ best this year, Wutke has shown his high potential at only 20 years old.
Consistently among Kapunda’s best players, Wutke can damage opposition as a speedy and hardworking winger or as a courageous mid.
Has six best player mentions in eight games.
33. MILES WARMINGTON
(Nuriootpa)
A former state country footballer, Warmington’s ability as a versatile forward and midfielder has been important to Nuriootpa’s makeup this year.
A tireless player who racks up high disposal numbers each week and hits the scoreboard with ease.
Has 14 goals and four best player appearances in eight games so far.
32. ROHAN NELSON
(Barossa District)
Returning to Barossa District from Central District in the SANFL at the end of last season, Nelson has fit his old team like a glove.
A versatile option who excels as a halfback and hard-running midfielder, Nelson is a reliable and damaging user of the footy.
Has four best player nods in eight games so far in 2023.
31. PATRICK WHITE
(South Gawler)
A regular zone representative who has made the last two teams of the Country Championships, White remains a star key defender in the BLG.
White is a strong and athletic backman who quells a number of attacks in the air and also possesses penetrating disposal out of the back half.
Has three best player performances in his eight games and has also moved up the ground a number of times to boot eight goals.
30. TERRENCE WILFRED
(Nuriootpa)
A star winger for the reigning premier, Wilfred has been a standout in the BLG yet again this season.
A young player with plenty of upside who is one of the competition’s quickest players and has a raking left boot.
Has 10 goals in eight games as well as three best player nods.
29. JOSH WITTWER
(South Gawler)
Wittwer has moved from an onballer and halfback to a premier small forward this season.
Uses the ball well inside the forward 50 and is clean off of the deck, swooping in to create for others or finish off in front of goal for himself.
Has 11 goals so far to go with three best player nods.
28. WILL SCHMIDT
(Gawler Central)
A young halfback out of Central District, Schmidt reads the ball as well as anyone in the competition.
Is a great mark for his size and always makes the right decision with ball in hand.
Has three best player nods and a goal in seven games.
27. CODY GILCHRIST
(South Gawler)
An exciting tall forward for South Gawler, Gilchrist will be one to watch in the BLGFA for years to come.
Standing at six feet and six inches tall, Gilchrist has returned to the Lions after playing a couple years of underage footy at Central District in the SANFL.
A major marking threat and a reliable kick for goal, Gilchrist has 14 majors in eight games as well as two best player nods.
26. KYLE THOROGOOD
(Gawler Central)
One of Gawler Central’s most reliable players, Thorogoodhas had a strong start to his 2023 campaign.
Can clamp down on most of the competition’s forward threats and distributes with ease out of the back.
Five best player appearances in eight games and also has four goals playing as a makeshift forward.
25. AIDAN MUDGE
(Kapunda)
A versatile asset who can dominate a game across the backline or through the middle.
Mudge is only 20 years old but has the ability to impact a game in a number of ways and has become one of Kapunda’s top prospects.
Has six best player nods in his eight games to go along with three goals so far.
24. ADAM COCKSHELL
(Freeling)
A former SANFL League footballer for Norwood and Port Adelaide Power squad member, Cockshell is still the best ruckman in the league.
Cockshell out-rucks most other bigs in the competition with elite tap-work for his midfielders and can also take big grabs down the line for his side.
Has five best player mentions in his eight games and three goals.
23. JACK MILES
(Angaston)
Formerly a promising defender for Angaston, Miles has made most of his impact through the middle so far this season.
Captain this season, Miles leads with his voice and by example, attacking the footy with courage and dealing to teammates.
Has six best player appearances in seven games and four goals.
22. TOM CORCORAN
(Angaston)
Arriving from Port District at the end of last season, former Port Adelaide Magpie Corcoran has been one of Angaston’s most important players.
Still a Port Adelaide top-up this year, Corcoran’s ability to take over a game from the middle with contested ball work and delivery inside 50 makes him a star.
Has five best player nods and five goals in seven games.
21. LEIGH RYSWYK
(Barossa District)
A damaging small forward, Ryswyk has been key to Barossa District’s success so far this year.
The former North Adelaide gun and state representative has been a regular high goalkicker in the BLG and currently has 24 majors in eight games.
Also has four best player nods.
20. JOEL HOLLOWAY
(Willaston)
A young midfielder who arrived from Virginia in the pre-season, Holloway has emerged as one of the BLGFA’s most effective players.
Regularly finds plenty of the footy each week and either hits teammates in a better position or racks up clearances, Holloway has seven best player mentions in eight games.
Also has four goals so far.
19. TRAVIS MUSTER
(Freeling)
A reliable veteran for the Redlegs, Muster continues to produce each week.
Muster is one of the BLG’s best defenders, competing relentlessly in the air and also winning contested ground balls to protect his side’s defensive 50.
Has six best player appearances in eight games.
18. BRAD HOEPNER
(Nuriootpa)
Last season’s Hurn Medallist for his best on ground performance during Nuriootpa’s grand final win, Hoepner remains one of the competition’s most dangerous players.
A hardworking midfielder who provides constant run and carry and elite distribution.
Has four best player nods in his five games so far and has kicked four majors.
17. DARREN SHILLABEER
(Barossa District)
An iconic forward in SA country footy and in the NT, former North Adelaide forward Shillabeer currently leads the competition in goalkicking.
A big and strong target up front who can take big marks and is a reliable set-shot for goal, Shillabeer has 26 goals in his seven games.
Has also been among his side’s best three times in seven games.
16. JOSH WALDHUTER
(Willaston)
A star goalkicking onballer for the Donnybrooks, Waldhuter has been as dangerous as ever this season.
The former Central District player runs all day and finishes as well as anyone in the comp in front of goal, making him one of the biggest midfield weapons in the BLG.
Waldhuter has tallied six best player nods in seven games and kicked 18 goals.
15. MITCH NORTON
(Nuriootpa)
Norton remains one of the standout key defenders in the BLG competition, providing important security and composure for the Tigers.
Norton controls the backline, intercepting countless entries in the air and delivering to teammates at a high efficiency.
He has tallied five best player nods in eight games.
14. LUKE MCINERNEY
(Angaston)
A star halfback who damages teams with run and carry, McInerney has been one of Angaston’s best players since arriving from Port District.
Provides elite run off of halfback and uses the ball as well as anyone, often setting up strong rebound attacks or dangerous inside 50s.
Has seven best player nods and two goals in eight games.
13. SCOTT DUTSCHKE
(Freeling)
A former star with Central District, Dutschke remains a weapon through the middle for Freeling.
The star Redleg attacks the footy relentlessly and lays a number of excellent tackles each week while also possessing the ability to cut the opposition open with accurate disposal.
Has seven best player nods in his eight games so far.
12. FRASER EVANS
(Kapunda)
A dominant player in the BLG for a number of years, the former Sturt premiership player has been a weapon across the backline again in 2023.
Evans is a reliable player who can take towering grabs and distribute as well as anyone in the competition.
Has three best player performances in his five games so far.
11. JAKE MAZZONE
(Barossa District)
A former champion for Hectorville in the Adelaide Footy League, Mazzone moved to Barossa District after winning a division five flag with the Hounds and has been a standout for his new side.
Mazzone is a strong player with the ability to win his own footy and also move up the ground as a solid target to boot goals and create opportunities for teammates.
Has four best player nods in seven games and 11 goals so far.
10. ISAYA MCKENZIE
(Willaston)
A current star top-up player for the Crows SANFL side, McKenzie has been a major part of Willaston’s finals challenge so far this year.
An agile and skilled midfielder who applies consistent pressure in the contest and uses the ball well by foot or hand.
McKenzie has five best player nods so far this season as well as eight goals.
9. CHARLIE MOLYNEUX
(Gawler Central)
Former Mail Medallist Molyneux is a standout midfielder who can control a game from start to finish for the Tigers.
Has one of the biggest tanks in the BLG and uses the ball as well as anyone under pressure.
Molyneux has five goals and five best player mentions in his six games so far.
8. FLYNN PISANI
(South Gawler)
One of the competition’s best on-ballers last season, Pisani has been close to his best in 2023.
The former Central District player has been a zone and SA Country rep and remains adept and winning the footy and exploding from packs to distribute to teammates.
Has five best player mentions and five goals in eight games.
7. JOEY BROWN
(Kapunda)
Kapunda’s standout player this season, Brown has been on top of his game.
A skilled midfielder who can not only win contested possessions but find space on the outside and damage teams with carry and distribution.
The former Crows SANFL player has eight best player nods in eight games for his club while also adding ive goals.
6. RUNE GILFOY
(Tanunda)
The Sturt premiership player joined former Double Blues teammate Sam Colquhoun at the Magpies for this season and has been exceptional as a key defender and utility in the BLG.
A big presence at the back who can lock down any opposition forward with strong marks or spoil work, Gilfoy can also switch to a key forward role and hit the scoreboard.
Has five best player mentions in eight games and also has three goals.
5. STEVE BURTON
(South Gawler)
The reigning joint 2022 BLGFA Mail Medallist, Burton has produced on the ball yet again for South Gawler in 2023.
A star midfielder, Burton can do it all whether it’s crashing packs for big grabs or important contested possessions, or bursting through the forwardline to kick big goals.
Has six best player mentions in his eight games so far and has also kicked 10 majors.
4. TYSON IRLAM
(Willaston)
The star Donnybrooks mid has been at his best this year, accumulating disposals for fun and leading his side to finals contention.
Irlam is a multiple-time Central Zone representative in the SA Country Championships and has shown why in 2023, hitting the contest hard and kicking goals almost every week.
Has seven best player nods in eight games and has also booted 10 goals.
3. BRENDAN DEW
(Barossa District)
The former Central District midfielder has been on a tear for Barossa this season, often single-handedly taking control of games for his side.
A tireless asset in the middle for the Bulldogs, Dew is an accurate kick of the footy and can damage teams by moving up the ground and booting goals if he is not setting teammates up inside 50.
Has seven best player mentions in eight games to go along with 12 goals.
2. NICK GREGURKE
(Nuriootpa)
Nuriootpa’s star onballer this season, Gregurke has put together a fantastic 2023 campaign so far.
A hardworking player with a great set of hands, Gregurke is a ball magnet who uses the footy exceptionally well and remains a major threat in the air each week.
Has six best player nods in eight games for the Tigers and also has five majors.
1. SAM COLQUHOUN
(Tanunda)
Reigning 2022 joint Mail Medallist with Steve Burton, Colquhoun has been at his best for Tanunda this year after the departure of Sturt running mate Zane Kirkwood.
A dominant midfielder who can impact the game in a number of ways, Colquhoun is a contested ball machine who deals to teammates efficiently and can also hit the scoreboard.
The Magpies playing-coach has six best player appearances in his eight games so far to go along with six goals.
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